Werdenfels Alps

Drifting and new fallen snow from the last few days can easily be triggered!

Drifting and new fallen snow from the last few days can easily be triggered!

The avalanche risk is considerable above 1500 metres and moderate below that. The main problem is the drift and new fallen snow of the last few days. Slab avalanches can be triggered in many places with little additional load. The avalanche prone locations are in the steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines in all aspects, distant from ridgelines behind terrain edges and in gullies and bowls. Avalanches are usually of medium size, but can occasionally become large in the areas of the Allgäu and Werdenfels highlands that are rich in fresh snow. Self-triggering of medium-sized loose snow avalanches is possible from the steep terrain interspersed with rocks.

Small and medium-sized gliding avalanches can release themselves on individual, very steep, sunny slopes.

Over the last few days, it has snowed around 40 cm across the board, and half a metre or more in congested areas. The snow has been transported extensively and many prone-to-triggering snowdrift accumulations have formed. Some of these are softly covered with snow and difficult to recognise. In addition, graupel and weak intermediate layers are embedded in the upper metres of the snowpack in places. Deeper layers of faceted crystals are difficult to disturb. On the south side, the snow is often wet towards the ground and can slide off on slippery ground.

Slow decline in avalanche danger with increasing settlement of the snowpack.